1983 GMC Jimmy Restomod

This 1983 GMC Jimmy is a neat little cruiser that's still quite practical yet quick like a Camaro. These are still great looking trucks and with a neatly transplanted 350 crate motor, it's wickedly fast on the street. Even if you worked for free, you couldn't build this yourself for less, so get in and start having fun instead! The trim proportions of the S15 Jimmy still look great 35 years later (has it been that long already?) and when this bright red SUV starts slicing through traffic, people are going to notice! It comes from down south so it was never a rust bucket and at some point it got a decent respray in bright red, so it looks suitably sporty. They also added a cowl-induction hood, which is a nice addition to the boxy SUV and gives it a bit of an attitude, as does the spoiler atop the roof. The finish would benefit from a professional cut and buff, but even as it sits, it gets attention and doesn't stray too far from the original design, making it a bit of a sleeper, too. Up front there are a few tweaks like the clear parking light lenses and a custom chrome bumper with fog lights built right in. Out back, the tailgate has been smoothed and clear taillight lenses add a bit of interest. All the emblems have been shaved, but given how popular these are, nobody's going to mistake it for anything else. The Jimmy's interior is still a comfortable, sporty, and practical space, even in the 21st century. Handsome bucket seats wear funky factory upholstery that works rather well in the bright red truck and it's remarkably well preserved. It's a period look that gets attention and the chairs are still firm and comfortable. It's also loaded with options like A/C (cold but the blower motor needs to be serviced), a tilt steering column, power windows and locks, and a pop-up sunroof. The carpets and dash pad are in great shape and not faded and the factory gauges still monitor the transplanted V8's vitals, although the tach is off by a little bit (it's counting eight cylinders instead of six). There's also an upgraded AM/FM/CD stereo system, a comfortable back seat, and plenty of cargo capacity even with a full-sized spare stashed back there. GM never built a V8-powered Jimmy, but the way this one is assembled, you'd swear it was a factory job. The 350 cubic inch crate V8 is a neat fit in the engine bay and they worked hard to keep an OEM look. There's a Holley carburetor on top of a Bow Tie intake manifold, HEI distributor, and a set of aluminum center-bolt heads to help build power. A serpentine belt drive system manages the accessories for a factory look and there's a giant aluminum radiator up front with twin electric fans to keep it cool. Power steering and brakes are part of the package as well, and it all works pretty much the way you'd expect. Turn the key and it fires, and if you can keep your foot out of it, it's happy to just trundle around town. Nail it and the 700R4 4-speed automatic transmission drops down a gear or two and the rear tires start to chirp and spin. Remember this thing isn't very heavy so acceleration is impressive at any speed. The 2-wheel-drive Jimmy chassis is largely unmodified, so it rides and handles properly, and the sound of the twin Flowmasters is going to surprise a few folks who expect a standard V6 buzz. Chrome IROC-style wheels are a great choice and they carry 17-inch Yokohama performance radials. A cool little SUV that can run with the big dogs without working very hard. If a bright red vehicle can be a sleeper, this GMC is it. Call today!